Missouri Department of Transportation Northeast District District News

Missouri Dept. of Conservation News

Two St. Charles County charitable organizations were each awarded a $5,000 “Sharing Success” grant by Cuivre River Electric Cooperative (CREC) and CoBank. Volunteers in Medicine St. Charles County and TREE House of Greater St. Louis were the recipients of the grants.

"The ‘Sharing Success’ grant is such a tremendous opportunity for our cooperative to support one of our guiding principles of ‘Concern for Community,’” says Diane Saale, President, CREC Board of Directors. “Every dollar we donate to organizations in the communities we serve that help our members, our neighbors, the positive impact is doubled, and to me that just makes sense."

Volunteers in Medicine St. Charles (VIM) serves the primary health needs of St. Charles and Lincoln County uninsured low income adult residents. The clinic, founded in 1996, is completely staffed by volunteers -- professionals including physicians, R.N.s, dietitians, pharmaceutical educators and support staff. The clinic does not charge for services, and depends upon donations and grants like “Sharing Success” to continue providing assistance. Prescription costs account for about 70 percent of the clinic's patient care expenses. VIM’s Clinical Director and R.N., Anita Hockett, said that according to 2018 VIM patient surveys, those who use the clinic have expressed how thankful they are that it exists. Said one patient, “Great place! I appreciate the dedication, patience, and time that all staff give to help people like me.”

A local agency has additional money to help people with summer utility costs.

The North East Community Action Corporation is getting 191 thousand dollars for the Energy Crisis Intervention Program in 12 counties. The additional federal money comes after NECAC distributed more than 380 thousand dollars from the original allocation in just six weeks.

The program pays overdue electricity bills of up to 300 dollars for income-qualifying households that have received a utility shut-off notice.

NECAC is encouraging people to apply because it doesn’t expect the additional dollars to last through the program’s scheduled end on September 30th. To find out more, call your local NECAC office or visit www.necac.org.

Even though the groundbreaking for a new Champ Clark Bridge took place less than a year ago, construction has now reached a milestone in the extensive project that will bring a new and improved bridge to an important part of Missouri's infrastructure, Louisiana, and the surrounding community.

"As far as construction goes, we're halfway there," said Keith Killen, P.E., Missouri Department of Transportation Project Director. "The piers in the river are nearly complete, and crews have begun placing steel girders that will support the bridge deck."

Although it is still months away, MoDOT and Massman already have the next phases of the project planned. "Work on the bridge deck will begin this winter, and continue into spring, with roadway pavement put in place in the summer of 2019. The new bridge will be open to traffic by fall of 2019, and the existing Champ Clark Bridge will be demolished by spring of 2020," Killen said.

Aside from work on the bridge, crews have completed the U.S. Route 54 and Missouri Route 79 intersection improvements, as well as an overlook at Riverview Park, both of which were part of the Massman Team's proposal for the Champ Clark Bridge Project.

The Twin Pike Family YMCA Board of Directors have stepped up to pledge over $41,000 to the Renew, Refresh, Revitalize Fundraising Campaign, which has been undertaken to complete much needed maintenance on the Y facility. The building, which has been providing life-changing programs and services to the Twin Pike communities for the past eighteen years, is in need of some maintenance and repairs.

Last week the Twin Pike Family YMCA Board of Directors met for a photo op to promote the current fundraising campaign. Board President, Mary Perkins encouraged everyone to get involved. "The Y is a second home for so many of us, and we all know our homes need on-going maintenance. Everyone in this area should consider donating to this project, as the Y supports our kids, our families and our communities and it adds to the quality of life we experience in this area!"

Twin Pike Family YMCA Fundraising Co-Chairs, Dr. Patti Blackmore and Ken Lane, remind everyone that every dollar counts. Dr. Blackmore stressed, "Together our communities have built a fabulous facility and it will take everyone to ensure the Y is around for generations to come."

The free public event is at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 5, at the Bowling Green Elementary Multipurpose Room, 700 W. Adams. Candidates for Pike County offices have been invited to attend and make brief presentations about their campaigns.

Pike County residents are urged to attend. The primary election is Tuesday, Aug. 7.

Champ Clark Honey Shuck Restoration Inc. is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization that traditionally sponsors stump speaking events during election years. The term derives from an early American practice in which candidates for public offices traveled from town to town and gave their addresses atop sawed-off tree stumps.